Publication Date
1993
Description
Low forage nutritive value of the giant forms of elephantgrass (Pen,1isetum purpureum Schum.) has limited its production In tropical areas. A dwarf cultivar, Motl ·(released In 1988), has given convincing evidence of much higher forage quality. A tall elephantgrass (cv. Kinggrass, USDA PI 300086) was hybridised with Moll. Over 400 lntraspecific hybrids were obtained in 1988 and evaluated. Yield and forage 11utrillve value of the two parents and selected progeny were compared. Dry matter production was measured at 6-week regrowth and 12-week regrowth during 1990. Samples collected were analysed for in vitro digestible organic matter (IVDOM) and crude protein (CP), Al 6-week harvest, leaf blades made up 629& of the yield and stems 209&. At 12 weeks, the stem component averaged 519& of the plant and leaf blades 369&. None of the genotypes were significantly different in IVDOM or CP at the 6 week harvest date, but at 12 weeks, Moll was higher than all of the other genotypes (589 g/kg IVDOM, 94 g/kg CP). In comparison, at 12 weeks, Kinggrass had 539 g/kg lVDOM and 66 g/kg CP,
Citation
Schank, S C.; Diz, D A.; and Smith, R L., "Nutritive Value of Regrowth of Pennisetum Parents and Hybrid Progeny" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 25.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session12/25
Included in
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Nutritive Value of Regrowth of Pennisetum Parents and Hybrid Progeny
Low forage nutritive value of the giant forms of elephantgrass (Pen,1isetum purpureum Schum.) has limited its production In tropical areas. A dwarf cultivar, Motl ·(released In 1988), has given convincing evidence of much higher forage quality. A tall elephantgrass (cv. Kinggrass, USDA PI 300086) was hybridised with Moll. Over 400 lntraspecific hybrids were obtained in 1988 and evaluated. Yield and forage 11utrillve value of the two parents and selected progeny were compared. Dry matter production was measured at 6-week regrowth and 12-week regrowth during 1990. Samples collected were analysed for in vitro digestible organic matter (IVDOM) and crude protein (CP), Al 6-week harvest, leaf blades made up 629& of the yield and stems 209&. At 12 weeks, the stem component averaged 519& of the plant and leaf blades 369&. None of the genotypes were significantly different in IVDOM or CP at the 6 week harvest date, but at 12 weeks, Moll was higher than all of the other genotypes (589 g/kg IVDOM, 94 g/kg CP). In comparison, at 12 weeks, Kinggrass had 539 g/kg lVDOM and 66 g/kg CP,
